Ohio man arrested after holding woman captive in pit behind home

By David Boroff, New York Daily News

A troubled Ohio man was arrested early Wednesday after a 30-year-old woman was found trapped in a pit inside a shed behind his home, authorities say.

With police rooted outside his Blanchester house with guns drawn for four hours, Dennis Dunn walked out “like he was going for a stroll,” police told WLWT.

Jennifer Elliott’s mother had reported her missing just a few hours before.

Dunn was charged with kidnapping following his arrest shortly after 8 a.m. He is known to have mental health issues and was taken to a nearby hospital while in custody.

A neighbor called authorities after hearing cries from the shed. The first police officer who arrived on the scene in Blanchester found Elliott being held captive.

The officer at the scene called for backup and waited outside the darkened home, according to the Blanchester Police Department. A second officer soon arrived.

Neighbors said they believed Dunn had an assault rifle, according to cops. Additional police personnel were called onto the scene, and Blanchester police obtained a search warrant for the home.

Dennis Dunn was arrested at his home.

(BLANCHESTER POLICE DEPARTMENT)

At approximately 8 a.m., Dunn came to the door in a “nonchalant” manner, according to cops, and was placed under arrest.

Elliott was taken to the hospital, but an officer noticed “no obvious signs of physical trauma.”

Dunn had been arrested earlier this month and charged with disorderly conduct and possession of marijuana. He said he heard voices and believed people were trying to get into his home. He called cops four times on a Saturday night, authorities said.

(This story was previously published at New York Daily news, click here for more)